It used to be one of the NHL's premier matchups, the Flyers and Penguins, perhaps built most around a playoff series back in 2012, the last time Pennsylvania's team in the East won a round.

Now the teams are only three points apart and both trending South. The Flyers have lost six of their last seven games and the Penguins 11 of their last 15. The Penguins kicked the Flyers out of the postseason in the spring before succumbing to the champion Washington Capitals. Both teams need this game.

"It brings the best out of both teams," said James van Riemsdyk, who hasn't been part of the rivalry since that 2012 playoff round. "Obviously we haven’t been playing to our potential so hopefully this is something that we can use to kickstart ourselves into a nice little run here."